The Adobe Foundation today announced a call for entries to the second
Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) Aspire Awards, a global, online challenge
inviting youth to creatively express their vision for driving change in
local communities. The competition is an extension of AYV, the company’s
global philanthropic commitment, which is designed to ignite creative
confidence in youth by empowering them to find their voice and make it
heard.

“At Adobe, we believe in the power of creativity to make the world a
better place,” said Michelle Yates, director of corporate social
responsibility, Adobe and executive director of the Adobe Foundation.
“The Aspire Awards give young people an opportunity to explore issues
that are important to them and creatively present possible solutions.
Ultimately, the skills they learn while creating their projects help
these youth become active and engaged members of their communities and
society at large.”

Categories:

The competition offers eight
standard content categories representing visual storytelling
methods that range from music videos to photo essays. A ninth
category – the
UNICEF Challenge – invites entrants to develop a video
proposal for a project they would like to launch in their local
community.

Eligibility:

Youth ages 13-19 are eligible to participate by teaming up with
adult educators who are part of the AYV partner network or are
registered with AYV
Essentials, an online source for free curricula and tools to
support the creation of digital content in an academic context.
Entries must be submitted by educators on behalf of youth
participants. Educators from any school or youth organization are
welcome to register with AYV Essentials at no cost.

The submission deadline for content produced from 2010-2012 is
February 22; the deadline for the UNICEF Challenge and any other
content produced in early 2013 is April 19.

How Winners areChosen:

From all eligible entries, 20 finalists will be selected in each
of the eight standard content categories; six finalists will be
selected in the UNICEF Challenge category. Finalist entries will
be showcased on the Aspire
Awards website April 29-June 8. During this period, an
international panel of esteemed professionals working in art,
film, and other creative fields will select first- and
second-place winners in each category. The six finalists for the
UNICEF Challenge will be selected by a panel of international
UNICEF experts.

The general public is also invited to participate in the judging
process by viewing, sharing, commenting on, and “liking” entries
via the Aspire Awards website. Entries that generate the highest
level of social engagement in each category will receive an
audience award.

Prizes:

Youth who submit entries for the eight standard content categories
are eligible to win software, hardware, a trip to attend the 2013
AYV Summit in San Jose, Calif., and a charitable donation to a
cause of their choice. UNICEF Challenge first-place, second-place,
and audience award winners will receive $40,000, $30,000, and
$20,000 grants, respectively, which will be distributed to their
country offices and dedicated to implementing the winning project
proposals. In addition, winners’ entries will be featured at
distinguished exhibitions, including international film festivals
and other arts organization events. For further prize details,
please visit the Aspire
Awards website.

About Adobe Youth Voices

Adobe Youth Voices is the Adobe Foundation’s global philanthropic
initiative that empowers youth from underserved communities with digital
media skills so they can comment on their world, share their ideas and
take action on issues that are important to them. By harnessing the
energy and insight of youth 13–19 years old, Adobe Youth Voices aims to
inspire a dialogue for change in their communities.

The program engages youth to express themselves through documentary
videos, photography, print media, radio diaries, animation, Web
communications and other media. The Adobe Youth Voices global network
includes 700 sites in 52 countries. For more information, visit www.youthvoices.adobe.com.

About the Adobe Foundation

The Adobe Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation created and
funded by Adobe to leverage human, technological and financial resources
to drive social change and community improvements.